A resident, who asked not to be named, found the distressed duck entangled in fishing line on January 3 and came to suspect it had taken a hook while he was working to free the animal.

WIRES volunteer Erin Summerfield collected the bird and called veterinarian Dr John Coles at Moorong Vet Clinic.

Even though the clinic was closed, due to the emergency nature of the injury, Dr Coles agreed to examine the bird and x-rays revealed a hook lodged deep inside the neck.

Dr Coles immediately operated and removed the hook and the bird was given pain relief and antibiotics before going into care with WIRES volunteer Shelly Roza, who nicknamed it 'Ducky'.

"It was really nice for Dr Coles to do the surgery. It was one very lucky duck. For it to recover this quickly is a credit to the vet team," Ms Summerfield said.

Ducky responded well to treatment and was released back into the lake on Monday. Ms Summerfield said the incident was a reminder for all lake users to responsibly dispose of their fish hooks, lines and other rubbish. "We had a rescue a few months ago for a crow hooked on its wing," she said.

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